Hinged gutter cover

ABSTRACT

An elongated gutter overlying mesh cover hingedly mounted on the outer edge of the gutter by clip means. The cover includes an outwardly projecting handle portion selectively engaged by the double-hooked end of a tool for first raising and dumping the cover and then positively repositioning the cover.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,834,091 Dugan Sept. 10, 1974 [54] HINGED GUTTER COVER ll3 ugbird 212/241; [76] Inventor: John Dugan, Box 515104 Irvine St., umer Kankakee 60910 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh [22] Filed: June 14, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; 21 Appl. No.: 369,933 Harvey B-JaCObSO A ST A T [52] US. Cl. 52/12 [57] B C 51 Int. Cl 1504a 13/00 An elongated gutter Overlymg mesh Cover hmgedly 58 Field of Search 52/12; 210/474 mounted on the 9 edge of the gutter y 9 p means. The cover includes an outwardly pro ecting 5 References Cited handle portion selectively engaged by the double- UNITED STATES PATENTS hooked end of a tool for first raislng and dumping the 2 469 841 5/1949 0 52/12 cover and then positively repositioning the cover.

urs 2,841,100 7/1958 Moller 52/12 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures HINGEI) GU'ITER COVER The present invention generally relates to rain gut ters, and is more particularly concerned with a uniquely constructed mesh cover for such gutters which can be easily swung outward for a dumping of leaves and other debris therefrom.

It is well known to provide gutter guards or gutter covers in the nature of elongated screened sections which overlie the open gutters and, while allowing for the entry thereto of the roof draining water, exclude leaves and other debris so as to maintain the gutters free running. However, the guards themselves eventually tend to clog due to the accumulation of the various matter thereon. This in turn gives rise to the necessity of climbing up to the gutters and manually removing the trash.

It is the primary object of the instant invention to provide a unique system whereby the gutter covers can be periodically cleaned without requiring the homeowner to actually climb to the gutters. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of a unique gutter guard which is pivotally mounted on the outer edge of the gutter and controllable from the ground or a lower level through an elongated tool having a hooked upper end which engages an outwardly projecting handle on the cover for an upward and outward swinging thereof in a manner so as to outwardly discharge any debris accumulated thereon. Once the debris is discharged, the gutter guard is easily repositioned with the tool.

The gutter guard is of a simple although highly unique construction readily adapted to conventional gutters, easily manipulated and capable of many years of trouble free use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the gutter guard or cover of the instant invention mounted in opa erative position on a housing gutter;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the gutter guard with a portion broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 33 in FIG. 1 and illustrating the manipulations associated with the opening and closing of the cover;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cover mounting clips; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the operating end of the gutter manipulating or handling tool.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the gutter guard or cover of the invention.

The guard, preferably rectangular and formed in three foot lengths for ease of handling, is formed of wire mesh 12 welded to a peripheral rigid rod frame 14. The mesh 12 will be such so as to allow for free passage of water therethrough while effectively excluding leaves and other debris.

The cover 10 rests over the open top of a gutter 16 with the outer edge of the guard overlying the outer edge portion of the gutter 16 and with the inner edge of the cover normally overlying the adjacent roof edge whereby an effective excluding of debris from the gutter 16 will be effected.

In order to clean the cover 10 itself in accordance with the invention, the cover is to pivot upwardly about the outer edge of the gutter 16 as suggested in FIG. 3. Accordingly, in order to allow for the pivoting or swinging of the cover 10, and at the same time provide for a secure mounting of the cover on the gutter, a plurality of hinge clips 18, made of an appropriate nonrusting material such as fiber glass, are utilized. Each clip 18 includes a vertical leg 20 configured to conform to the outer face of the gutter 16 which, in the illustrated form, is of a generally ogee shape. The clip 18 also includes an upper inwardly extending horizontal leg 22 terminating in a downward reverse bend or hook portion 24 which snugly engages over the normally provided inwardly extending lip 26 on the upper outer edge of the gutter 16. The horizontal leg 22 of the clip 18, at approximately the point of intersection with the upper portion of the vertical leg 20, includes an upwardly bulged or configured portion 28 which rotatably receives the outer portion of the rod frame 14 of the guard or cover 10. In order to accommodate the clip 18, it will be appreciated that a small portion of the wire mesh screen 12 in the immediate vicinity of each of the clips 18 is cut away. In mounting the clip, the hook portion 24 is first engaged with the lip and then the clip swung downward and outward snapping the gutter conforming outer leg 20 into position. When mounted in this manner, normally three clips 18 being utilized for each guard 10, the guard 10 is, while free to pivot in the manner suggested in FIG. 3, positively retained in operative position over the gutter 16.

A dumping handle 30 is provided on the cover 10 and consists of an elongated rigid rod bent at an angle with the bight or angle portion being located in outwardly spaced relation to the center of the outer edge of the guard 10. The two legs of the handle 30 overlie the guard and extend to the opposite rear corners thereof, being welded to the rod frame at each of the points of engagement therewith so as to both rigidify the frame and form a rigid centrally located extension thereof. Noting FIG. 3 in particular, it will be appreciated that the outwardly projecting portion of the handle 30 is downwardly bent for more convenient access thereto.

The actual manipulation of the cover 10, as suggested in FIG. 3, is effected by a tool comprising an elongated pole 32 having a horizontally orientated S- shaped head 34 on the upper end thereof forming a downwardly directed hook portion which engages the handle 30 for a downward swinging of the outer end of the handle and corresponding upward swinging of the cover 10, and an upwardly directed hook portion which engages beneath the projecting portion of the handle for a pivoting of the cover 10 back into gutter covering position. It will be appreciated that the outwardly projecting portion of the handle 30 will also act as a stop limiting the outward pivoting movement of the cover 10, enabling a forward swinging of the cover sufficient so as to effect a complete discharge of the debris therefrom while retaining it in a convenient position to be again positioned over the gutter by the upwardly directed hook portion of the pole tool. The length of the pole 32 will of course be sufficient so as to accommo date the height of the particular gutters involved with the user of the pole standing on the ground or on a convenient lower level.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A gutter guard comprising an elongated gutter overlying mesh cover, said cover having inner and outer edges and opposed ends with a rigid peripheral frame thereabout, said outer edge being positionable in overlying relation to the outer edge of a gutter, clip means engaging said cover frame along the outer edge in a manner whereby said cover can pivot relative thereto, said clip means comprising a plurality of clips,

each clip having a vertical outer leg configured to conform to theouter face of the gutter, and a horizontal inwardly extending upper leg terminating in a reversely bent inner and engageable about an intumed gutter lip, said upper leg, adjacent the outer leg, having a configured portion pivotally receiving the outer edge frame of the cover, and handle means fixed to and overlying said cover and projecting laterally outward from the outer edge of the cover beyond the clip means whereby a downward movement of the outer portion of the handle means will effect a corresponding upward pivoting of the cover, said handle means comprising an elongated rod bent at an angle and forming a central portion laterally outward of the outer edge of the cover centrally thereof and a pair of rearwardly diverging legs overlying and extending to the opposite ends of the inner rear edge of the cover, each leg being fixed to the frame at both the outer and inner edges.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N 3,834,091 Dated September 10, 1974 Inventor( J hn Du It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the Title page, item 76, "Box 515104 Irvin St.

Kankakee, Ill." should read Box 5l5-104 Irvine;St.,

Aroma Park, Ill

Signed and sealed this 31st day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

rzccoy 2-1. GIBSON JR. 0. I IARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE: 869 93o 

1. A gutter guard comPrising an elongated gutter overlying mesh cover, said cover having inner and outer edges and opposed ends with a rigid peripheral frame thereabout, said outer edge being positionable in overlying relation to the outer edge of a gutter, clip means engaging said cover frame along the outer edge in a manner whereby said cover can pivot relative thereto, said clip means comprising a plurality of clips, each clip having a vertical outer leg configured to conform to the outer face of the gutter, and a horizontal inwardly extending upper leg terminating in a reversely bent inner and engageable about an inturned gutter lip, said upper leg, adjacent the outer leg, having a configured portion pivotally receiving the outer edge frame of the cover, and handle means fixed to and overlying said cover and projecting laterally outward from the outer edge of the cover beyond the clip means whereby a downward movement of the outer portion of the handle means will effect a corresponding upward pivoting of the cover, said handle means comprising an elongated rod bent at an angle and forming a central portion laterally outward of the outer edge of the cover centrally thereof and a pair of rearwardly diverging legs overlying and extending to the opposite ends of the inner rear edge of the cover, each leg being fixed to the frame at both the outer and inner edges. 